Stage-lift flowing device



I July 8,.1930.

A. BOYNTON 1,770,023

STAGE LIF FLQWING DEVICE Filed May 6. 1927 20 part of this sponsivePatented July 8, 1930 PATEN'B OFFICE ALnxANnER BOYNTON, or SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS STAGE-LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Application filed- May 6, 1927. SerialNo. 189,302.

This invention relates to stage lift flowing devices for use in oil andother wells.

Briefly stated an important name is to provide simple means by which thedifference in tubing and casing pressures may be utilized to allow ofthe admission of a lifting medium, such as compressed air or gas, to thecolumn of fluid to be elevated at the most advantageous periods wherebyto conserve the sup- 10 ply of compressed air or gas.

Another and equally important object is to provide a stage hft flowingdevice by means of which the well may be flowed through the tubing orthe casing with equally good re- 15 sults.

' Other objects and advantages will be aipparent during the course ofthe following escription.

In the accompanying drawing forming 8 application and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the improved stage liftflowing device ap- "plied,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the ends ofpressure resprings'may be anchored,

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating a modified form of retainingmeans for the ends of the springs,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrat- 35 ing still another formof anchoring means for the ends of the pressure responsive springs. Inthe drawing the numeral 5 designates a tubular body having suitablemeans, such as couplings 6, by which the same may be incorporated in atubing. Figure 1 illustrates that the body 5 is externally threaded topermit of the application of an internall threaded tubular valve housing8. The va ve housing is provided between the ends thereof with aninternal annular groove in which one or more annular leaf sprlngs 9movably operate. The ends of the spring or springs may be apertured' forthe reception of the reduced.

stem 12 of a combined locking and tensioning screw 14. It is importantto note that the a the spring being governed by the The inherentflexibility of the spring 9 is suificient to hold the spring in constantpressure engagement with the stem 12 so there is no movement of the sring with respect to the stem during the ad ustment of the mem- I ber14.

As shown in Fi re 3, the end portions of the spring 9 may e overlappedand formed with apertures snugly receiving the stem 12.

Figure 4 illustrates that the ends of the spring may be perfectly plainfor engagement with opposite sides of the stem 12 by which the spring isheld in place.

Figure 5 illustrates that the ends of the spring may be formed withopposed semicircular notches to define a recess through which thereduced stem is extended to hold the spring in place.

If the well is to be flowed through the tubing a lifting medium, such ascompressed air the tubing so that when the di erence in pressure betweenthe tubing and casing fluids is below a predetermined point the springor springs 9 will remain substantially in the position illustrated inFigure 1 and compressed air or gas will be admitted to the tubing. 'Asthe pressure within the tubing drops due to the flow of the fluidtherein under the influence of the liftin medium the spring or springswill be move in the d rection of the port 20 to diminish or possibly cutofi the admission of additional 'liftin fluid to the tubing, the extentof movement 0 difierence in between the or gas, is supplied to thecasirg exteriorly of pressures, within certain limits, tubing and easingfluids.

If it is desired to have the spring 9 diminish i an , 65 for'the passagespring 9 will port 22 to partly or completely close the same is claimesired to render the spring 9 more sensitive some or all of the pressureexerted by the tensioning screw may be relieved.

If it is desired to flow the well through the casing the lifting fluid,such as compressed air or gas, is introduced by way of the tubing andwhen a low differential in tubin and casing pressures obtains the spring9 W111 remain substantially in the position illustrated in Figure 1 toallow of the movement of the lifting fluid out through the port 22. Thedischarge of the lifting fluid into the casing will result in the upwardmovement of the oil or other fluid being flowed-and the pressure withinthe casin will promptly drop. When the pressure in t e casin thus dropswith respect to vthe ressure within the tubing the be drawn in thedirection of the so that thesubsequent building up of easing pressurewill again bring about a' low differential between casing and tubingpressures and the consequent uncovering of the port 22 .to renew thesupply of lifting fluid to the casing.

In summarizing it will be seen that when a low differential obtainsbetween casing and tubing fluids the ports for the passage of thecompressed air or gas will be uncovered to allow of the movement of thecompressed air or gas into lifting relation to the oil or other productof the well. When a high differenf tial obtains as a result of themovement of the oil or other product of the well the supply ofcompressed air or gas will be diminished and possibly cutofi' wherebythe supply of compressed air or gas is conserved for use during the mostadvantageous periods. Particular attention is directed to the fact thatthe compressed air or gas must pass about the edges of the sprin 9during its movement into liftin relation to the oil or the like and thespring is therefore at all times responsive to the varying pressuredifferentials in casing and tubing pressures. In fact asfpreviouslysuggested thesuccessful operation v0f the invention is dependent on thelocation of the spring within the zone of m fluence of the pressuresinterio 'ly and exteriorly of the body 5,

In practice compressed air or gas from an outsidesource may be employedor if the gas pressure in the well is suflicient no outside sources needbe called upon, It willbe observed that the improved induction valve maybe applied either end up so that installa- 5 tion is simplified.

Havin thus described the invention, what 1s: 1. A valve com rising abody having a ort a fluid, a spring exten 'ng across said port todiminish or cut off the movement of a fluid through the same, a housingfor the spring, and a tensioning device engaging the spring and havinglocking contact with the housing and the body to hold the housingagainst movement with respect to the body.

- 2. A valve comprising a body having a passage for a'fluid, a curvedleaf spring extending across said passage and being within the zone ofinfluence of the fluid pressures interiorly and exteriorly of the body,an attaching device for said spring, a housing carrying said attachingdevice and enclosing said spring, said attaching device being providedwith means engaging said body to hold the housing against turning.

3. A valve comprising a body having means whereby the same may beincorporated in a well tubing and provided with a port for the passageof a fluid lifting medium,

an annular leaf spring encircling said body' and extending across saidport to control the movement of a lifting medium therethrough, a housinhaving an annular groove receiving said sprlng, and a' spring attachingdevice carried by said housing and having means engaging said body tohold the housing against turning and engagin the spring.

4. A valve comprising a ho y having means whereby the same may beincorporated in a well tubing, a leaf spring valve extending about thebody, acarrier encircling the body, said carrier and said bodybeingrovided with ports controlled by said lea spring valve and being adaptedfor the movement of a fluid lifting medium, and an attaching devicehaving means to secure said spring valve in place and engaging said bodyand said carrier to hold the carrier against movement with respect tothe body.

' 5. A valve comprisin a body, a carrier detachably mounted on fie bodyand having a groove, said carrier and said body being provided withports communicating with said groove, a le'a spring valve in said grooveand having means controlling the movement 6. In a stage liftflowmgidevice for wells,

a body having a flow passage and a two way port for communication withthe flow passage, and a valve element controlling said port and'beingresponsive in either direction to the difference in pressures prevailinginteriorly and exteriorly of the body to throttle the flpw of fluid inthe direction of the differentia 7. Ina stage lift flowing device forwells,

a body having means whereby the same may be incorporated in a welltubing and being provided with a flow passage for constant communicationwith the tubing, said body being provided with a two way port for thepassage of a fluid, a valve element associated with said port and beingresponsive in either direction to the pressure diflerential between thefluids interiorly and exteriorly of the tubing to throttle theflow offluid in the direction of the differential, and a flexible support forsaid valve element.

8. In a stage lift flowing device for wells, a body having means wherebythe same may be incorporated in a well tubing and having a flow passagefor constant communication with the tubing, there being two way portsfor communication with the flow passage and the tubing, and a flexiblesupport having means controlling said two way ports and being responsiveto a pressure diflerential in either direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON.

